Wouter Vrancken. — © BELGA
KRC Genk opens its Champions’ Play-offs on Monday evening (kick-off at 6:30 PM) with a home match against competition leader Union. Coach Wouter Vrancken is looking forward to it with confidence. “We don’t want to play a supporting role, so a good start is important.”
Wouter Vrancken received bad news again this week: attacker Yira Sor needs groin surgery, his season is over. “That’s a shame, especially for him. He was also very emotional,” sighed the Genk coach on Friday at his weekly press conference. “But this is also a shame for myself and the team. Yira was doing well and could certainly add value in these play-offs. How will we make up for all these absences offensively? You will see that on Monday. (Winks)”
Yira Sor’s season is over. — © BELGA
And so the focus immediately went to the start of the play-offs. “I’m looking forward to it, because we had to fight hard for this,” said Vrancken. “It was mentally and physically tough to get here, but of course it’s just beginning now. We don’t want to play a supporting role in these play-offs, so it will be important to gain momentum in those first games. What is ultimately possible will depend on that.”
With Union, blue and white immediately face a tough opponent. “But I’ve said it before: there are no easy opponents,” Vrancken concludes. “Union has been stable, steadfast and efficient for an entire season. But we played two decent games against them in the regular season. We have to believe in our own abilities and try to seize the opportunities we get.”
Heynen individually
With the exception of the injured Yira Sor, Luca Oyen and Aziz Ouattara and the suspended Christopher Bonsu Baah, Vrancken can count on an almost fit core against the leader. Alieu Fadera played a half in the practice match against Deinze (2-2) last week and is available again. Noah Adedeji-Sternberg (who received a kick against Patro with Jong Genk) and Bryan Heynen (who has still not recovered 100 percent from the hindrance he suffered in the match against Westerlo) are also likely to be present.